Preparing Your Home for Child Care

The following recommendations meet and/or exceed the health and safety standards for certification. Before an initial certification home visit, we ask all providers to review the Certification Home Visit Checklist.

Bathroom

The tub, sink and toilet must be clean.

All electrical appliances in the bathroom should be stored in a closed cabinet or drawer during day care hours.

It is recommended that any toxins or other hazards NOT be stored in the bathroom (such as medications, cleaning supplies, razors, etc). A better alternative would be a different location either up high or locked.

Basement

Furnace/laundry area should have a locked door or be inaccessible for children.

All levels used for child care (including the basement) need 2 exits. Note: If you care doing child care in your basement and the second exit is a window, it can be no more than 46 inches above the floor that is capable of being opened from the inside without use of tool or removal of sash and which has a window opening size of at least 20 inches wide and 24 inches in height.

Emergency Planning

Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be mounted on the ceiling on every level of your home even if some levels aren’t being used for child care.

Exits should be kept unblocked and free of clutter.

Emergency phone numbers should be posted by the phone.

Kitchen

Floors should be clean, swept, mopped and/or vacuumed.

Knives and other sharp objects must be kept out of children’s reach or locked up. (Knife blocks are not allowed to be on the counter.)

Garbage should be in a covered container that is inaccessible to children.

Dog and cat food, water dishes and litter boxes must be inaccessible to children.

Tinfoil, plastic wrap and plastic bags should be inaccessible to children.

Outside

Concrete and asphalt are prohibited under climbing equipment, swings, and slides.

Wading pools are allowed, but they are not recommended. Sprinklers and other fun water toys are a better option.

During child care hours, trampolines, hot tubs and in-ground and above-ground pools may not be used. They must be inaccessible to children.